Legal Paternity DNA Test

What a Legal Paternity Test Can Be Used For

Why a Legal Paternity Test is Needed

Although it is possible to purchase at-home testing kits, they are not considered to be court-admissible DNA tests for legal purposes. Only a legal DNA paternity test from a certified lab can be used in court.

Why might you need one? A legal paternity test is required if a woman or man wants to identify a child’s biological father, and needs the results for legal purposes, such as to collect child support payments from the other parent. A child born to unmarried parents may need a legal DNA test to have the father’s name added to their birth certificate or to receive Social Security survivors benefits upon the father’s death. Another reason is so that the rightful father of a child can be notified if the mother places the child up for adoption.

Legal DNA testing is often ordered during a divorce and child custody case by the couple’s attorneys, the judge, or one of the divorcing parents. Our DNA paternity testing is done by professional technicians at one of our nationwide clinics. The DNA testing laboratory report is signed by a doctor.

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What is Paternity Testing?

A DNA paternity test uses genetic samples to confirm or rule out the biological relationship of father and child. It is often ordered by a lawyer or presiding judge to settle a child custody and support court case.

How Costly is Paternity DNA Testing?

At Health Street, our legal lab-based DNA test to determine paternity costs $350.00. We use a comprehensive 21-marker analysis for conclusive results that are legally admissible in court. Home tests, while available, aren’t legally recognized.

For residents of NY, a doctor’s prescription and $45/person lab fee directly to the lab is required. The total fee is $390 for a 2 person test.

Where Can I Get a Legal Paternity Test?

We make it easy to schedule an appointment online, and you can choose from one of our 5000 DNA collection and testing sites across the U.S. You can decide the time and place where you wish to test, and if the parties want to test together at the same clinic. If this isn’t possible, they can test separately at different labs and/or at different times.

Once we have the required information, we will send you a text message and email to confirm your appointment details. We also offer home and hospital visits in certain locations for an additional fee—call us for details.

When arriving for the test, adults should bring their photo ID. For the kids, bring their birth certificate or social security card. In the case of newborns, the hospital discharge papers serve as identification.

How Long Do Results Take?

Following sample collection, it usually takes about a week for the results of court-admissible DNA tests. The signed lab report is sent to you by email, and you will receive the official hard copy in another week or two by U.S. mail.

How Are Test Results Determined?

We offer a wide selection of DNA testing services, including legal paternity tests. It’s easy to order online and you choose the time and place for your relationship tests. We send you confirmation by text and email and send status notifications every step of the way. Our licensed labs provide highly accurate results that are admissible in a court of law, which isn’t the case with an at-home collection kit.

Contact us today for your legal DNA profile test or order online.

If you’d like to see a comprehensive list of all DNA tests that Health Street offers, you can view all DNA tests here. Below are some of the related DNA tests that we offer: